Former Tulane signal caller Ryan Griffin has signed an unrestricted free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints.

April 27, 2013

New Orleans -
Former Tulane quarterback Ryan Griffin has signed as a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints, as it was announced by Griffin following the conclusion of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Griffin, a 6-5, 206-pound four-year starter from Westlake Village, Calif., is the most recent Tulane player to sign a free agent contract to play for the Saints since former Green Wave quarterback Patrick Ramsey (1999-2001) in 2010.

"Since I've been in New Orleans and at Tulane, I've realized many years ago that the Saints are the heart-beat of the city and community and I'm very excited to be a part of the organization," Griffin said. "This is a great opportunity to be a part of the team and the roster. That's what it all comes down to. I was hoping to get drafted but wasn't sure what would happen and when I figured out that I wasn't going to get drafted I was set on the Saints. We've practiced at the facilities and played at the Superdome while I was at Tulane so that part really isn't new to me. Obviously it's a different jersey and different team, but the same playbook and setting which helps the whole process. I'm very excited to sign with the Saints."

"I am very excited for Ryan," said Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson. "He's going to a first class organization with some of the best coaches and players in the NFL and I am elated that he has a chance to stay in the city and represent Tulane University at one of the best franchises in the NFL. I think Sean and Mr. Benson have made a great decision in signing Ryan and I believe he'll have an instant impact with the team."

Griffin was a four-year letterman and starter who played in 42 games with 39 starts, completed 836-of-1396 passes (.599) for 9,026 yards, 79 touchdowns and 35 interceptions while catching a pass for 15 yards and scoring one rushing touchdown during his career. Griffin set Tulane career records in pass attempts, completions, completion percentage while finishing second in passing yards, passing yards per game (214.90), pass attempts per game (33.24), completions per game (19.83) and 300-yard passing games (10), fourth in touchdown passes, fifth in touchdown passes per game (1.333), sixth in passing efficiency (122.40), eighth in lowest interception percentage (4.19) and 10th in yards per pass attempt (6.465).

He sits second in Green Wave single-season history in passing yards per game (307.88 in 2012) and completions per game (27.22 in 2012), second and eighth in pass attempts per game (43.777 in 2012 and 33.818 in 2010), fourth, ninth and tied for 10th in completions (245 in 2012, 227 in 2011 and 223 in 2010), fifth, eighth and 10th in pass attempts (408 in 2011, 394 in 2012 and 372 in 2010), fifth and tied for ninth in completion percentage (.622 in 2012 and .599 in 2010), sixth in touchdown passes per game (2.22 in 2012), seventh in passing yards (2,771 in 2012), seventh and ninth in touchdown-to-interception ratio (1.818 in 2012 and 1.750 in 2010), eighth in passing efficiency (132.43 in 2012), 10th in yards per pass attempt (7.033 in 2012) and tied for 10th in touchdown passes (20 in 2012)

Griffin holds Tulane single game records in pass attempts (66 at Houston on 11/24/12) and passing yards (476 vs. Rice on 11/3/12) and also ranks second, fourth and tied for ninth in single-game pass attempts (64 at Marshall on 11/27/10, 57 vs. East Carolina on 11/17/12 and 53 at Tulsa on 10/16/10), tied for second and tied for 10th in pass completions (36 vs. East Carolina on 11/17/12, at Houston 11/24/12, at Marshall 11/27/10 and at Tulsa on 10/16/10, and 34 vs. UAB on 10/27/12), second in touchdown passes (five vs UAB on 10/27/12), and second and sixth in passing yards (466 vs. UAB on 10/27/12 and 412 at Tulsa on 10/16/10).

This past season, he started all nine games he played in as a senior and was named honorable-mention All-Conference USA after leading the team in total offense (2644), pass attempts (394), completions (245), passing yards (2771), touchdown passes (20) and passing efficiency (132.43). He ranked second in C-USA in passing yards per game (307.9) and yards of total offense per game (293.8), and fifth in passing efficiency.

Griffin finished 22nd nationally in yards of total offense per game and 60th in passing efficiency. He threw for 300-plus yards five times with a pair of 400-plus outings, and twice set the school single-game passing record. Griffin originally set the record with 466 yards to go with a career-best five touchdown passes while completing 34-of-42 tosses vs. UAB (10/27) and surpassed that with 476 yards while completing 28-of-49 passes for four scores vs Rice (11/3)

He was tabbed C-USA and Louisiana Player of the Week for his performance against UAB, and earned College Sports Madness C-USA Offensive Player of the Week recognition for his showing against the Blazers and after throwing for 302 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-32 passing vs SMU (10/13).

He also had 300-plus passing games with 363 at UTEP (10/20) and 346 at Houston (11/24)...tied a career high with 36 completions vs. East Carolina (11/17) and Houston, and established a school record with 66 pass attempts in the season finale against the Cougars

Griffin suffered a shoulder injury in the second game of the year at Tulsa (9/8) and missed the next three games, but was selected to play in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game and claimed MVP honors after completing 14-of-18 passes for 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns while leading the National All-Stars to a 24-13 win over Team Texas.

Off the field, he majored in business management and was named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, the C-USA All-Academic Team and Tulane's 3.0 Club, and received the Fellowship Foundation Top Scholar Award.

The mission of the Tulane University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to support the university's purpose of enriching the capacity to think, learn, act, and lead with integrity and wisdom. This is ensured by providing our student-athletes and staff with opportunities for competitive success and personal growth within the context of sportsmanship, teamwork, and integrity.